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Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists vs Shampooers: what changes?

Consider Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists if you want to provide beauty services, such as cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp. Consider Shampooers if you would rather shampoo and rinse customers' hair. Entry credentials differ: Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists, postsecondary nondegree award; Shampooers, no formal educational credential.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists and Shampooers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

National median pay (2025)
$35,790
Route into the job
Postsecondary nondegree award
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate
Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
73,400
Know before you choose

Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.

See the full Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists brief

Shampooers

National median pay (2025)
$32,600
Route into the job
No formal educational credential; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate
Massage, shampoo, and condition patron's hair and scalp to clean them and remove excess oil.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
2,200
Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (15,400 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Shampooers brief
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists has the edge on annual openings

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists is at 73,400 annual openings, compared with 2,200 annual openings for Shampooers.

2

Typical preparation differs.

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists: Postsecondary nondegree award Shampooers: No formal educational credential; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

3

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists has the edge on projected growth

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists is at 7.7% projected growth, compared with 5.6% projected growth for Shampooers.

4

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists has the edge on median pay

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists is at $35,790, compared with $32,600 for Shampooers.

58/ 100

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

vs
41.4/ 100

Shampooers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists vs Shampooers

DimensionHairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsShampooers
Median pay (2025)$35,790$32,600
Pay percentile4.5 percentile0.6 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)7.7%5.6%
Annual openings (2025–2035)73,4002,200
2025 employment595,00015,400
How you qualifyPostsecondary nondegree awardNo formal educational credential; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation groupJob Zone 3Job Zone 2
Related work experienceNo prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingBLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists briefRead Shampooers brief

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Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists vs Manicurists and Pedicurists

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Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
$35,790 · 7.7% growth
Manicurists and Pedicurists
$35,760 · 9.2% growth
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Shampooers
$32,600 · 5.6% growth
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